Slingsby’s productions to date, as well as planned works, cover a range of theatrical genres. Man Covets Bird is no exception, melding theatre with a live musical trio and large projected animation.

Man Covets Bird is about a boy who grows into a man following both his physical journey and internal struggle to independence and happiness. There is a brief introduction of the man at birth, primary school age and as a teenager which gives us a sense of his life thus far. The story then focuses on “that moment” when the man realises that he is separate and different from his parents.

Through adventure, joy, melancholy, and much time spent with his friend—the bird, the man finds his path in life and one which we hope will lead to ultimate happiness. He has the idea to move from his small apartment into an abandoned ice cream van, his own nest, the place from which he nurtures the loves in his life and shares his joy with the world.

One of the many delights of Man Covets Bird is its emotionally rich story telling. Finegan Kruckemeyer has written a poetic text with a story teller’s love of words. His approach lends gentleness and a sense of enjoyment to the story. There are touches of humour for both children and adults. The chronological structure clearly leads the audience through the story, chronicling complex ideas, emotions and experiences beneath the narrative. The story unfolds without talking up or down to any particular age group, allowing audience members to embrace their own understanding of the tale. It is a story for the heart and what a wonderful thing to be offered to young people, ten-years-old and over.

Nathan O’Keefe is an engaging narrator. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience witnessing him populate the stage with a range of characters. Some characters’ voices where hard to hear when the musicians were in full swing and performance was directed to the other side of the auditorium. Despite some volume issues, the energy, interaction and emotion brought to the work by O’Keefe and the three musicians acting as chorus, was enriching. The trio collectively had an impressive musical range, playing and singing Quincy Grant’s soothing melodies, and at times, raucous ditties on a myriad of instruments.

Andy Packer’s inspiration from Wolfgang Sievers’ industrial photography clearly influenced the People’s Republic of Animation’s work. Animated images of work inside a factory and scenery passing by a moving train were beautifully integrated into the story telling and overall look of the piece, lending their own touch of magic to the production.

Geoff Cobham and Wendy Todd’s designs, also influenced by the photography, featured an industrial looking rotunda which served as the main playing space, housing the musicians as well as representing everything from childhood home to city factory and train interior. With multiple performance spaces around the auditorium, both narrator and musicians moved through and behind the audience. The use of space encouraged a spatially dynamic performance that was well fitted to the story’s aspects of physical and internal travel. It gave the sense of being outdoors, without being outdoors. This was reinforced carpeting the theatre with lawn and having the audience seated on picnic rugs, folding chairs and park benches. There were times when I felt it would be nice to actually be in a park, without the expectations of a theatre restricting my movements when following the performance around the space.

Dave Green’s lighting design drew the separate playing spaces together while also augmenting the production’s sense of space, time and travel.

What I found most striking about Man Covets Bird is how refreshing it was to have a story about growing up told so gently. The performance didn’t avoid the pain and challenges of growing up, but presented them with a warmth and gentleness that is uncharacteristic of this universal tale—one that is often told harshly, depicting gratuitous pain and insurmountable challenges. The joy of this piece lies in the determination and ultimately, the happiness the man attains.

Slingsby is a relatively new company having only been founded in 2007. Man Covets Bird carries the company’s trademark of wonder, with a touch of magic.

Congratulations to Andy Packer and the Slingsby team for their soothing telling of a coming-of-age tale. It was a refreshing and uplifting theatre experience. As the lights dimmed at the end of the performance, there was a gasp from the audience and someone could be heard saying, “It’s magic.”

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